2-year-old Gary girl shot, in 'very critical' condition

A 2-year-old girl is in "very critical" condition after being shot in the head with a .22 caliber handgun Saturday afternoon in Gary, according to police.

The girl was shot in the 2500 block of West 9th Avenue about 2:30 p.m. and flown to the University of Chicago Medical Center from Methodist Hospital Northlake Campus in Gary, police department spokeswoman Gabrielle King said.

Police said the 2-year-old was playing with another child inside a home when the gun discharged. Nobody is in custody and police believe the shooting may have been accidental, King said.